UC Santa Cruz Equity & Inclusion in Hiring Initiative

Inspired by the campus Equity & Inclusion in Hiring initiative, the Division of Academic Affairs now requires all staff candidates to submit Statements of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. To support our candidates, we’ve designed the following:

• Guidelines for writing the diversity statements (for candidates)
• Rubrics for evaluating the diversity statements (for search committees)

What is meant by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?

Diversity: The variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geographic region, and more (from UC Regents Policy). Many institutions of higher education focus on groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in top tier research institutions, including women and racially minoritized groups (including African Americans, Hispanic/Latinx peoples, and Native Americans).

Equity: As opposed to equality, where everyone receives the same support regardless of circumstance, equity focuses on fair treatment, and on ensuring access to support and opportunities necessary for advancement and success. Equity acknowledges structural issues and barriers such as racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, and sexual harassment that have prevented the full participation of individuals from marginalized groups.

Inclusion: The proactive effort through personal actions, programs, and policies to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, respected, supported, provided with a sense of belonging, and valued.